The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-16
5rMx vsxED eUEsrIoH.

mornings fediterial what 10 10
become Of the nssro2" 10 me II
n q matter Of no small interest to
read from time to time the
discussions OF the APPEAL on
this topic. j have seen the APPEAL
come over from the false position that
the granting Of the common rights and
privileges Of manhood to the black
man means social equality" to the
more reasonable view, that social
equality depends altogether upon
other conditions. Concerning our fste
as people, should be very despon.
dent did / not reckon up the history
Of the race question Tor the past
twenty years or more. There
are multitudes Of men and
many public journals who, dur
ing even the last decade,
have admitted the hand Of God in
reyolutionizing the race question in
this country. Between the lines OF
your editorials from time 10 time /
read the great truth that the only
right or wite policy OF the white race
in America 10 to deal Justly by the ne
gro, who is largely, by birthright, and
ALEC by q long apprenticeship Of servi-
tude and by bard labor under the
most adverse circumstances, has earned
the right and title to American citi-
zsnship. The white foreigner, but re-
Gently over from European shores, Ia
far lees worthy, though he IL made the
more welcome. You are pleading for
the negro fair chance 10 tecure all
that Is good In education. You de-
mand for him all the common induce
ments to ali that makes up good citi-
senship. Any wise statesman will do
this. You clearly point out and CEN
sure the absurd and unchris-
tian conduct Of certain Episco-
palians In Sou'h Carolina, who,
as followers OF Christ, scorn the
negro In ecclesiastical relations. In
the article today, you ridicule the
Grand Amy for refusing 10 admit the
negro on terms OF equality. You
faithfully pointed out the mistaken
and unsoldier like conduct Of tina vieks-
burg and Memphis companies who re-
fused TO march In line with negro
soldiers. There was no question OF
social equality. They simply made
themselves ridiculous in the eyes OF
the world. ! take Il that the Divine
Providence Is solving this question.
Christianity does not MAKE men social.
ly tquale, when they are naturally IN.
equal, but Christianity 10 q great level.
or OF men on the ground Of Just
recognition Of the claims and duties Ct
common manhood. The social
equality danger 10 q miserable bugbear
which betrsys the nauowness and
prejudice under which man may
labor. For example, the AP.
PEAL, q ehort time ago, refer.
ring 10 education In Georgia, said
the Southern people would favor the
education Of the coloIed people, but
never would they agree 10 educate
them in the same school. The truth
10 that history and the logic OF events
are against this doctrine. read that
statement just after returning from
Northern Ohio, where in the leading
college OF the West ! attended an
alumni reunion. and shared with other
colored graduates OF former years a
most hea'ty welcome at the hands OF
a large faculty ard hundreds OF cul.
tutd men and women, who make up
the society OF the alumni OF an hon.
ored institution-- 0berlin College.
Twenty seven young ladies from the
literary course took their diplomas
and a clsss OF ioriy.one graduated from
the classical and philosophical courses.
Twelve young ladies we're In the latter
group. In this class were
three young men from Japan
and one Southern colored man,
a very black man, whose whole col.
lege record and his graduating address
gave him q very honorable rank In
points OF merit along with bis white
competitors.
His classmates have always treated
him with courtesy and respect, and In
doing this they have not considered
him A. necessarily their social equal,
but their claim 10 intelligence has
been established by their conduct In
extending 10 him NJ man the chance
OF iniellf ctual rivalry and the privil.
tgee Of the tame noble Institution OF
learning. In almost every class In
that Institution for manv years past
there have been one or more repre-
bentatiyee OF the "despsed race"
They have uniformly been treated
with Kindness and respect, unless per.
sonal conduct prevented. Ohio has
recently abolished tie "black law"
from her statute books, and this at
least IL the result OF q bill presented
10 the Legislature OF that State by the
Hon. b. w. Arnott, black man,
from the Xenla District Colored
public tchoo are nov 10 give away 90
MIXED schools, and we learn that In
several towns the school boards
have reelected the colored school
teachers. No doubt there vii be some
friction.
In many localities al the North there
has bsen ~ much race preiu-
dice, perhsps, 40 at the South.
But OF late years the great tide Of zen.
timent has been gradually moving the
other way. Indeed, In some respects
u has been q irregular ground swell"
Come South 10 Berta College, near
Lexington, Ky. There, In June, some
5000 or 1000 people, Of every rank and
description, attended the commence
ment exercises. Daring the past year
25i colored etudents end $50 whites
were enrolled at Berea College. Every
commencement witnesses the mutual
rivalry Of white and colored young
men aud yolng ladies' ~ psAkers, and
they share alike In the classroom eIer.
cises during the year Berea IL con.
coded TO be one Of the best schools In
Kentucky. Toe bitter prejudice and
opposition which q few years agl ex.
listed toward that school on account Of
its position on the race question has
given way. The members Of the fac
ulty are treated now with respect,
where once they were denounced and
mobbed.
/ could cite other facts,
but let ihete suffice 10 prove
that, In my opinion, while there may
long remain many separate irs.itn.
tons, churches and schools, YET the
lima In eomin0 fanfAlv uhan ia al -.